HESPERIDIN

Hesperidin is a flavanone glycoside consisting of the flavone hesperitin bound to the disaccharide rutinose. The sugar cause hesperidin to be more soluble than hesperitin.

Distribution

The phytochemical hesperidin is mainly found in citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges. The highest concentration of hesperidin can be found in the white parts and pulps of the citrus peels. Hesperidin can also be found in green vegetables.

Health Benefits of Hesperidin

Hesperidin has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypolipidemic, vasoprotective and anticarcinogenic and cholesterol lowering actions. Hesperdin can inhibit following enzymes: phospholipase A2, lipoxygenase, HMG-CoA reductase and cyclo-oxygenase.

Hesperidin improves the health of capillaries by reducing the capillary permeability.

Hesperidin is used to reduce hay fever and other allergic conditions by inhibiting the release of histamine from mast cells. The possible anti-cancer activity of hesperidin could be explained by the inhibition of polyamine synthesis.

A study 'Hesperidin, a citrus flavonoids, inhibits bone loss and decreases serum and hepatic lipids in ovariectomized mice' by Hiroshige Chiba et al (J. Nutrition, June 2003) showed that hesperidin added to the died not only lowered serum and hepatic cholesterol, but also inhibited bone loss by decreasing osteoclast number in ovariectomized mice. The molecular mechanism of the inhibitory effect of hesperidin on bone resorption is not clear.

Synonyms

Hesperetin 7-rhamnoglucoside, hesperetin-7-rutinoside